Convertible toy cradle and crib for a doll



1967 B. STOPEK CONVERTIBLE TOY CRADLE AND CRIB FOR A DOLL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 13,

INVENTOR Aug. 15, 1967 STOPEK 3,335,433

CONVERTIBLE TOY CRADLE AND CRIB FOR A DOLL Filed April 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY Bigm/n 575/ek Filed Apr. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 447,662 8 Claims. (Cl. 105) The present invention relates generally to a toy for a doll, and more particularly to certain constructural features of said toy which have appropriate and separate functionality for realistically simulating use of the toy as both a cradle and as a crib, respectively.

As may be readily appreciated, the play value of a childs toy is related to a large degree to the variety of end-uses of the toy. Thus, such play value is enhanced by the ability of the child using the toy to realistically simulate both a cradle and a crib for her doll, rather than if said toy were useful for simulating only one of these play-objects. However, while providing a variety of enduses for a toy has obvious benefits, there is a need to maintain the constructural features of a toy to a minimum in order that the complexity of manufacture and cost of the toy is not prohibitive. Thus, on the one hand the need to simplify manufacturing procedures and limit cost dictates the use of a minimum number of constructural features of a typical toy, while on the other hand, there is a tendency to increase constructural features in order to in turn increase the number of end-uses of said toy.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toy which has a minimum number of constructural features consistent with eflicient manufacture and economical production, and which nevertheless may effectively be employed to realistically simulate several playobjects. In this connection, the toy of the present invention may be interchangeably used as either a cradle or as a crib for a doll.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a childs toy which may effectively be used by the child as both a cradle and as a crib for her doll, and which during one or the other of these end-uses has no tell-tale constructural features detracting from the particular end-use for which it is then being employed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a toy not only having the aforesaid end-uses as a cradle and as crib, but which also has an additional, although secondary, end-use as a bassinet, thereby further increasing the play value and interest of said toy.

A childs toy demonstrating features of the present invention includes a body formed by a bottom wall and dependent end and side walls defining an enclosure Which effectively doubles in function as both a cradle and as a crib for a doll. Each of the opposite end walls further includes a wall section thereon which terminates in an arcuate peripheral surface which permits rocking of said toy body as during simulated use of the same as a cradle. Provided on the under surface and at opposite ends of the bottom Wall of said enclosure are pivotally mounted legs which, during the aforesaid use of said toy as a cradle, are conveniently folded against said bottom wall in an out-of-the-way storage position. At other times, however, said legs are adapted to be unfolded from said bottom wall and thereby provide a raised position for said nited States Patent 0 toy body which effectively simulates and permits use of the same as a crib.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away and in section, of a toy cradle and crib for a doll demonstrating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view projected from FIG. 1, similarly having portions thereof broken away and in section, and best illustrating the rocking surface of said toy providing use of the same as a cradle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view best illustrating use of said toy as a cradle;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of said toy as seen looking in the direction of arrows designated 4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial elevational view, on an enlarged scale and in section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and best illustrating the two positions of the legs for said toy;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away and in section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and best illustrating the crib-supporting position of the legs of said toy;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, with portions broken away and in section, and best illustrating use of a cover member in said toy as a bassinet;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away and in section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7, and best illustrating further constructural details in connection with the use of said cover member as a bassinet;

FIG. 9 is a partial elevational view, on an enlarged scale and in section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 4, and best illustrating details on construction of the legs of said toy; and

FIG. 10 is a partial plan vieW of an end section of said toy body, on an enlarged scale and in section taken on line 10-40 of FIG. 2, and best illustrating the pivotal mount of the legs of said toy in said toy body.

Reference is made to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 6 in which there is shown a toy, generally designated 20, which illustrates features of the present invention and having double use as a cradle and a crib for a doll, as best shown in said respective figures. Toy 20 includes a body 22 having end walls 24, 26, connecting side Walls 28, 30 and a bottom wall 34 defining an enclosure, herein generally designated 32, which in practice has a mattress 33 therein. In accordance with the present invention, the enclosure 32 effectively doubles in use as a cradle and a crib for a doll, all as will be more fully explained subsequently herein. To this end and as is best illustrated in FIG. 3, each of said end walls 24, 26 have an arcuate peripheral surface S along the bottom ends thereof which it will be readily appreciated permits the toy 2G to be rocked when used as a cradle. Additionally, provided on the under surface of the bottom wall 34 of said enclosure 32 and at opposite ends of said wall are legs, generally designated 36, which as is best shown in FIG. 6 may be placed in a position extending laterally of said bottom wall 34 when it is desired to use the toy 20 as a crib. Thus, in said FIG. 6 or crib-supporting posi tion, the legs 36 are effective to maintain the toy body 22 in a raised position to more realistically simulate the use of said toy 2b as a crib. At other times, however, the legs 36 are conveniently folded against the undersurface of said bottom wall 34 in an out-of-the-way storage position, best exemplified by FIG. 3, wherein said toy 28 may then be rocked on the arcuate surfaces S for realistically simulating use of the same as a cradle suitable for a doll.

Having reference now to the constructural features of said toy 20 which provide the aforementioned uses as both a cradle and a crib for a doll, it will be more particularly understood that said body 22 providing the enclosure 32 is advantageously fabricated as a molded plastic article of manufacture. Thus, as best shown in FIG. 1, each of the end walls 24, 26 are identically constructed and formed as an integral part of said body 22 with the major portion of each end Wall, as is exemplified by end wall 26 in FIG. 1, extending in one direction beyond the plane of bottom wall 34 so as to define in conjunction with the side walls 28, 30 the enclosure 32 therebetween. Each of said end walls 24, 26 further include a hollow wall section, herein generally designated 38, extending in the opposite direction beyond said bottom wall 34 and more particularly including vertically oriented wall segments 38a, 3812 connected to each other by said previously described arcuate wall segment S which also provides an appropriate arcuate surface for rocking said body 22. This degree of rocking motion which is provided the toy body 22 is best seen in FIG. 2 wherein said toy 213, when used as a cradle, is supported on a surface S1 along the respective arcuate peripheral surfaces S of said wall sections 38.

Again referring to FIG. 1, but also in conjunction with FIG. 4, it will be seen that during the time that said toy 29 is supported on said arcuate peripheral surface S that the pair of legs 36 mounted respectively at opposite ends and along the underside of the bottom wall 34 are conveniently folded against said bottom wall 34 in what will be understood to be the leg storage position. To better hide the legs 36 from view at this time, the side walls 28 are extended slightly below the plane of the bottom wall 34 for forming a storage compartment 39 in conjunction with the end wall sections 38.

Each leg 36 is identically constructed and includes opposite diverging leg members at 42 connected at their widest span by a cross member 44. Bottom wall 34 is provided with projections collectively designated 46 at locations thereon corresponding to the intersection each of the leg members 40, 42 with said cross member 44, such points of intersection being herein designate 53. In practice, each of the legs 36 just snugly fits about the projection 46 when in their respective folded position against said bottom wall 34 and thus are retained in this folded position by the force fit about said projections 46 which are therefore effective leg'gripping means.

Each of the legs 36 further includes stub shafts 50, S2 molded on the free ends of the leg members Ali), 42 respectively, and which shafts t 52 are disposed in trunnions 54, 55 molded as an integral part of said bottom wall 34 to extend downwardly from the undersurface thereof. The interfitting of said stub shafts 5%, 52 in said trunnions 54, 56 thus provide a pivotal connection for each of said legs 36 at opposite ends of said bottom wall 34. There is further provided on each of legs 36, a leg-mounting member 58 formed as an integral part of and centrally on the cross member 44 and extending therefrom medially between said leg members 4-0, 42. Each leg-mounting member 53 terminates in a free end more particularly designated 58a. Completing the construction of each of the legs 36 is a reinforcing rib 6t) provided throughout each leg construction to promote rigidity in this molded part.

The presence of the reinforcing rib 60 however, does not prevent nor detract from the flexibility of this plastic member, and in particular does not prevent twisting of the leg-mounting member 58 on the cross member 44 out of the plane of the leg members .0, 42 for the purpose of bracing the legs 36 in their crib-supporting position, all as is now subsequently described in the immediately following paragraph.

As is best shown in FIGS. 5, 6, each of the legs 36 is unfoldable from a position against the bottom wall 34 into a position extending laterally therefrom. It is in this laterally extending position, that the leg-mounting member 58 of each of said legs 35 is adapted to be twisted out of the plane of the leg members 40, 42 and the free end 58a thereon inserted into a not-ch 62 which is provided medially of the arcuate wall surface S, all as is clearly shown in phantom perspective in FIG. 5 and in full line in FIG. 6. A stop projection 63 may be conveniently molded in the upper end of the portion of the reinforcing rib dtl on the leg-mounting member 58 to limit the degree of penetration of the free end 58a within each notch 62. Thus, in their unfolded or open position, the legs 36 uniformly assume an appropriately outwardly inclined position with respect to their pivot connections to said bottom wall 34, to thereby maintain the toy body 22 in a stable raised position during which said toy body 22 is advantageously used as a crib for a doll.

In addition to primary use of toy 20 as a cradle and as a crib as just described, while said body 22 is in its raised position, a plastic cover member 64 which in the illustrative embodiment will be understood to form an integral part of the commercial package for said toy 20, is advantageously inverted and placed in said inverted position within the enclosure 32 to function as a bassinet for a doll when appropriately filled with water L. Otherwise, the normal position for said cover member 64 is that as shown more particularly in FIG. 1 in which strategically located lateral projections, herein collectively designated 66, and provided about the periphery of the open end of said cover member 64 snap into notches, collectively designated 63, provided in aligning locations in said end walls 24, 26.

From the foregoing description, it will thus be appreciated that toy 20 represents an article of manufacture which is relatively easy to mold or otherwise fabricate, having a minimum of constructural features thereon, and which nevertheless has varied end uses including that of a rocking cradle, and crib bassinet. Thus toy 20, despite its simplified construction, and has a greatly enhanced and considerable degree of play value and interest.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy cradle and crib for a doll comprising a body for said toy formed by a bottom wall and dependent end and side walls extending in one direction beyond said bottom wall to define a combined cradle and crib enclosure therebetween, each of said end walls having a wall section thereon extending in an opposite direction beyond said bottom wall and provided with an arcuate peripheral surface extending in an arc of a circle from one end to the other end of said wall section, and a pair of legs connected to said bottom wall for supporting said toy body in a raised position during use as a crib, each of said legs having a pivotal connection at one end to an end of said bottom wall for placing each leg, when folded against said bottom wall, into a storage position and, when unfolded therefrom, into a crib-supporting position.

2. A toy cradle and crib for a doll comprising a body for said toy formed by a bottom wall and dependent end and side walls extending in one direction beyond said bottom wall to define a combined cradle and crib enclosure therebetween, each of said end and side walls having a wall section thereon extending in an opposite direction beyond said bottom wall to define a leg storage compartment therebetween, each of said Wall sections on said end Walls having an arcuate peripheral surface extending in an arc of a circle from one end to the other end of said wall section, and a pair of legs connected to said bottom wall for supporting said toy body in a raised position during use as a crib, each of said legs having a pivotal connection at one end to an end of said bottom wall for placing each leg, when folded against said bottom wall, into said leg storage compartment in a storage position normally hidden from view and, when unfolded therefrom, into a crib-supporting position during which each of said legs extends laterally of said bottom wall.

3. A toy cradle and crib for a doll comprising a body for said toy formed by a bottom wall and dependent end and side walls extending in one direction beyond said bottom wall to define a combined cradle and crib enclosure therebetween, each of said end and side walls having a wall section thereon extending in an opposite direction beyond said bottom wall to define a leg storage compartment therebetween, each of said wall sections on said end walls having an arcuate peripheral surface extending in an arc of a circle from one end to the other end of said wall section and a leg-mounting notch therein, and a pair of legs connected to said bottom wall for supporting said toy body in a raised position during use as a crib, each of said legs having a pivotal connection at one end to an end of said bottom Wall for placing each leg, when folded against said bottom wall, into said leg storage compartment in a storage position normally hidden from view and, when unfolded therefrom, into a crib-supporting position during which each of said legs extends laterally of said bottom wall, each of said legs including a leg-mounting member adapted to be received in said leg-mounting notch for maintaining said crib-supporting position of said legs.

4. A toy cradle and crib for a doll comprising a body for said toy formed by a bottom Wall and dependent end and side walls extending in one direction beyond said bottom wall to define a combined cradle and crib enclosure therebetween, each of said end walls having a wall section thereon extending in an opposite direction beyond said bottom wall and provided with an arcuate peripheral surface extending in an arc of a circle from one end to the other end of said wall section, a pair of legs connected to said bottom walls for supporting said toy body in a raised position during use as a crib, and leg-gripping means provided on said bottom wall for releasably gripping each of said legs when in a folded position against said bottom wall, each of said legs having pivotal connection at one end to an end of said bottom wall for placing each leg, when unfolded from said bottom wall, into a crib-supporting position.

5. A toy cradle and crib for a doll comprising a body for said toy formed by a bottom wall and dependent end and side walls extending in one direction beyond said bottom wall to define a combined cradle and crib enclosure therebetween, each of said end walls having a wall section thereon ex nding in an opposite direction beyond said bottom wall and provided with an arcuate peripheral surface extending in an arc of a circle from one end to the other end of said wall section, a pair of legs connectsd to said bottom walls for supporting said toy body in a raised position during use as a crib, leg-gripping means provided on said bottom wall for releasably gripping each of said legs when in a folded position against said bottom wall, each of said legs having a pivotal connection at one end to an end of said bottom wall for placing each leg, when unfolded from said bottom wall, into a crib-supporting position, and a cover member normally disposed over the opening of said body enclosure and adapted to be placed, in an inverted position, within said body enclosure for providing a suitable container for storing liquid during extended use of said toy as a bassinet.

6. A toy cradle and crib for a doll comprising a body for said toy formed by a bottom wall and dependent end and side walls extending in one direction beyond said bottom wall to define a combined cradle and crib enclosure therebetween, each of said end walls having a wall section thereon extending in an opposite direction beyond said bottom wall and provided with an arcuate peripheral surface extending in an arc of a circle from one end to the other end of said wall section, each of said wall sections further having a leg-mounting notch therein for leg structure supporting said toy body in a raised position when said toy is used as a crib, a pair of legs forming said leg structure connected to said bottom wall, each of said legs including a pair of leg members having a pivotal connection at one end to an end of said bottom wall, a cross member connected between said leg members at a point remote from said pivotal connection, and a leg-mounting member joined at one end to said cross member to extend medially of said leg members and having an opposite free end which is adapted to be received in said leg-mounting notch for maintaining each of said legs, when unfolded from said bottom wall, in a cribsupporting position.

7. A toy cradle and crib for a doll comprising a body for said toy formed by a bottom wall and dependent end and side walls extending in one direction beyond said bottom wall to define a combined cradle and crib enclosure therebetween, each of said end walls having a wall section thereon extending in an opposite direction beyond said bottom wall and provided with an arcuate peripheral surface extending in an arc of a circle from one end to the other end of said wall section, each of said wall sections further having a leg-mounting notch therein for leg structure supporting said toy body in a raised position when said toy is used as a crib, a pair of legs forming said leg structure connected to said bottom wall, and leg-gripping means provided on said bottom wall for releasably gripping each of said legs when in a folded position against said bottom wall, each of said legs including a pair of leg members having a pivotal connection at one end to an end of said bottom wall, a cross member connected between said leg members at a point remote from said pivotal connection, and a leg-mounting member joined at one end to said cross member to extend medially of said leg members and having an opposite free end which is adapted to be received in said legmounting notch for maintaining each of said legs, when unfolded from said bottom wall, in a crib-supporting position.

8. A toy cradle and crib for a doll comprising a body for said toy formed by a bottom wall and dependent end and side walls extending in one direction beyond said bottom Wall to define a combined cradle and cn'b enclosure therebetween, each of said end walls having a wall section thereon extending in an opposite direction beyond said bottom wall and provided with an arcuate peripheral surface extending in an arc of a circle from one end to the other end of said wall section, each of said wall sections further having a leg-mounting notch therein for leg structure supporting said toy body in a raised position when said toy is used as a crib, a pair of legs forming said leg structure connected to said bottom wall, leg-gripping means provided on said bottom wall for releasably gripping each of said'legs when in a folded position against said bottom wall, each of said legs including a pair of leg members having a pivotal connection at one end to an end of said bottom wall, a cross member connected between said leg members at a point remote from said pivotal connection, and a leg-mounting 7 8 member joined at one end to said cross member to ex- References Cited tend medially of said leg members and having an opposite UNITED STATES PATENTS tree end which is adapted to be receivedin said leg-mount- 1,131,894 3/1915 Baker mg notch for malntaimng eaeb of sa d legs, hen un- 2969830 1/1961 Thompson X folded from said bottom wall, 1n a crib-supportmg posl- 5 tion, and a cover member normally disposed over the FOREIGN PATENTS opening of said body enclosure and adapted to be placed, 101,751 10/ 1916 Great Britain.

in an inverted position, with said body enclosure for providing a suitable container for storing liquid during RICHARD PINKHAM Pnmwy Examme extended use of said toy as a bassinet. 10 R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TOY CRADLE AND CRIB FOR A DOLL COMPRISING A BODY FOR SAID TOY FORMED BY A BOTTOM WALL AND DEPENDENT END AND SIDE WALLS EXTENDING IN ONE DIRECTION BEYOND SAID BOTTOM WALL TO DEFINE A COMBINED CRADLE AND CRIB ENCLOSURE THEREBETWEEN, EACH OF SAID END WALLS HAVING A WALL SECTION THEREON EXTENDING IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION BEYOND SAID BOTTOM WALL AND PROVIDED WITH AN ARCUATE PERIPHERAL SURFACE EXTENDING IN AN ARC OF A CIRCLE FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF SAID WALL SECTION, AND A PAIR OF LEGS CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM WALL FOR SUPPORTING SAID TOY BODY IN A RAISED POSITION DURING USE AS A CRIB, EACH OF SAID LEGS HAVING A PIVOTAL CONNECTION AT ONE END TO AN END OF SAID BOTTOM WALL, FOR PLACING EACH LEG, WHEN FOLDED AGAINST SAID BOTTOM WALL, INTO A STORAGE POSTION AND, WHEN UNFOLDED THEREFROM, INTO A CRIB-SUPPORTING POSITION. 